Through WCCUSD’s Ivy League Connection program, Hercules High School Students Justine Betschart, Stacy Chan, Ramiah Davis-Shephard, Louisa Man, Julia Maniquiz, and Yueming Wang will be attending Cornell University to either study Freedom and Justice or Hotel Operations Management during the summer of 2009.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Good signs

Waking up at 6am to attend the Hotel Operations Management program reminds me of school with the exception that I rarely woke up on my own back home. Today, I managed to wake up before my alarm. Perhaps that is a good sign.

* The entry sign to the lecture hall.

It was a piece of cake finding the location of our class building which helped comfort some of my anxiety. I soon found out that taking a class with 79 other students is not bad at all. Everyone seemed to be very friendly and helpful during our first hotel-related lecture, ice-breaking introductions, and memo assignment in the computer lab. The first memo assignment made me realize how professional this class is and I will try my best to follow the norm that Mr. McCarthy mentioned during our course introduction in the morning. I feel the challenge but I think I am up for it and I have enough confidence that I can pull this off.

Also as a good omen, the skies cleared up sometimes in the morning when we were inside the building. During lunch, Louisa, Stacy and a few students we met went out to lunch in a new building we have not had a chance to go into -- the Trillium. And while we were leisurely walking down the roads, I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pictures.

* On our way to the book store.

* At the bookstore. This is where the Hotel Operations Management packet is found.

* On the way back from the Statler Lecture Hall to our Donlon Dorm.

I am almost positive that this summer program will one of the best experience I get to have. I am off with good signs!

1 comment:

Somehow I missed this posting the first time around and for that I will have to make amends. Perhaps it was because you used a similar photo of the sign as did Louisa and at my age I am easily confused.

When you try to tell people that studying amongst serene, clean and peaceful surroundings actually enhances the educational process you'll run into people who will never buy into that concept. I know the age comparison is different but I can't imagine that trying to study at a Kennedy High or a Richmond High with the condition of either of those schools could possible compare to what we're seeing in the photos you've posted. [By the way, I'm working with others such as Mr. Ramsey and Ms. Kronenberg to correct the conditions of our schools so all of our students can focus on their education rather than on keeping the rain water from dripping through the roof and onto their heads while sitting in our classes.]

Sometimes the way a college looks can be just as important as what's being taught inside the classrooms. In our own minds we have ideas about what a college should look like and Ivy League type schools will always win out over those modern colleges conducted out of skyscrapers in downtown Metropolis.

About this blog

We invite you to follow along with us as we describe our experiences during the Summer College program. From personal blogs to photos to videos, we will delve into specifics about our three-week program and our adventures in Ithaca, New York, which lasts from June 20th to July 11th. Aside from learning more about ourselves, we will expand our understanding about Cornell and the fields we have chosen to study.

We want to distinctively acknowledge Charles Ramsey and Madeline Kronenberg for giving us an opportunity of a lifetime to participate in this elite summer enrichment program. We want to further thank Ms. Cheryl Lilhanand and Mr. Graig Crossley (our chaperone) for their support and guidance. Lastly, we want to commend all of our benevolent sponsors for contributing generously to this trip.